Lord Thomas- Bracey (ME) 1947 Flanders G
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1966. Notes by Coffin/Flanders follow. This version closely follows the English broadside, Child D.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
(Child 73)
Child prints nine versions of "Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor" or "The Brown Girl" as the ballad is so frequently called; all but one are Scottish. However, this one, Child D, a seventeenth-century English broadside, seems to be the progenitor of the entire American and modern British stock of the song. Child D variants have been found frequently on both sides of the Atlantic, and this circulation no doubt accounts not only for the fact most informants know or can recognize the ballad, but also for the fact there is little difference in the ballad from one area to another.
Belden, 38, points out some of the major differences between the Scottish tradition and the American versions of the song. The Scottish opening, borrowed from "Fair Margaret and Sweet William" (Child 74), and the remarks exchanged between the women on the brown girl's complexion are both missing in this country, as may be the "rose-briar" cliche, common to Child 74 and Child 75 in "Lord Lovel"). Furthermore, the American hero himself and, not his messenger goes to see Eleanor, and he seeks advice from his mother, never other members of the family. As many texts in this country open with a description of Lord Thomas as a "bold forester," the phrase used in the Nafis and Cornish Forget-Me-Not Songster, there is little doubt this popular volume had much to do with the spread and consistency of the ballad throughout the States.
G. Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor. As sung by Mrs. Lilla Bracey of the Agamenticus section of York, Maine. Learned from her parents, who were descendants of the early settlers of this part of Maine. M. Olney, Collector; September 21, 1947
Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor
Lord Thomas called his merry men all
And dressed himself in white
And every town that he rode through
They took him to be some knight.
He came unto Fair Eleanor's bower
And knocked upon the ring;
Although so ready as Fair Eleanor
She rose to let him in.
"Oh, what is the matter, Lord Thomas?
Why have you come unto me?"
"I've come to invite you to my wedding,"
"Oh, that is sad news!" says she.
Fair Eleanor called her merry men all
And dressed herself in green
And every town that she rode through
They took her to be some queen.
She came unto Lord Thomas' hall
And knocked upon the rim,[1]
Oh, who's so ready as Lord Thomas
He rose to let her in.
"Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she cried,
"Methinks she looks wondrous brown,
You might have had as fair a lady
As ever the sun shone on"'
"Oh, name her not!" Lord Thomas, he cried'
"Oh, name her not unto me
For better I love Your little finger
Than all her whole bodee."
The Brown Girl had a little penknife;
It was both keen and sharp,
Between the short ribs and the long
She pricked Fair Eleanor's heart.
"Oh, what's the matter?" she cried,
"Why, canst thou very well see?
You canst not see my own heart's blood
Go trickerling down my knee?"
He placed. his sword upon the floor,
It pointed to his heart;
There never were three lovers, sure,
That sooner did depart.
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1. ring